City Year UK - Trustee

About City Year UK City Year was founded in Boston in 1988 on a single conviction: that a year of full-time service by young people, given to the schools and children who need it most, can change the course of a life. That conviction now operates across twenty-nine cities in the United States, as well as in South Africa. In 2010, it came to London. City Year UK recruits and trains 18–25-year-olds as full-time volunteer mentors, placing them in schools serving some of the country's most disadvantaged communities across London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. City Year Mentors serve throughout the academic year, working alongside teachers to support pupils with their attendance, behaviour and academic progress. In return, City Year UK invests in the personal and professional development of its volunteer mentors, helping them build the skills, confidence and experience to succeed in their own futures. This is an important moment to join City Year UK, as the organisation enters its next phase under new leadership and builds on its work across London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. Role and responsibilities Like every City Year UK trustee, appointees carry the full legal and fiduciary duties of charity trusteeship. In practice this means:

• Contributing to the strategic direction, governance and oversight of City Year UK, including its finances, risk and safeguarding responsibilities
• Attending and preparing for board and relevant sub-committee meetings, and holding the executive team to account against agreed strategy
• Acting as an ambassador for City Year UK's mission
• Bringing the specific network and expertise set out above to bear, working with the Chief Executive and development team to open and steward relevant relationships through to gift or partnership Person specification
• A genuine belief in City Year UK's mission and model of youth-led service, ideally with prior exposure to education, youth or social mobility causes
• Board-level experience, or clear readiness for it, with a sound understanding of charity governance and the duties of trusteeship under the Charity Commission's framework
• Sound judgement, independence of mind, and the ability to constructively challenge and support the executive team in equal measure
• Willingness to draw on, or help influence financial support to City Year UK Time commitment and term Trustees are expected to attend quarterly board meetings in London, alongside relevant sub-committee work, with an estimated additional one to two days a month for the relationship and ambassadorial activity set out above. Appointments are for an initial three-year term, with the possibility of renewal by mutual agreement. Trustees are welcome to attend board meetings by video where distance from London makes this more practical, with an expectation of attending in person for key events. Process and timeline This search is conducted on a retained and confidential basis by Hartebridge. Hartebridge is a London-based executive search and leadership advisory firm, appointing Chief Executives, senior executives, Chairs, Trustees and Non-Executive Directors across commercial, charity, foundation and purpose-driven organisations. Please apply on the link below with your CV and Hartebridge will be in touch with next steps. City Year UK is committed to building a diverse and inclusive Board and welcomes applications from candidates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.